LOL, in a new Total Film article, Eccleston apparently says that good scripts are "paramount" in his selection process for movie roles.

Come on now, Chris. There is NO WAY IN HELL you looked at the script for G.I. Joe and thought, "Oh my! What an amazing story full of complex characters! I must take this part!"

Just admit that sometimes, a paycheck is a paycheck.

I know this is an old post so I hope you don't mind if I respond to it.

Eccleston seems to be one of those actors who usually prefers to do off beat indie roles over mainstream big budget and tries to choose things that challenge or interest him personally but every so often when he hasn't worked for a while he plays a movie villain for the money. And he generally gives good villain, even if the script isn't the best, he makes the most of his role. Now for TDW I hope it wasn't desperation to do something that made him accept. It's got a great cast and good director and the script seems like its upping the ante from Thor. And the can't mangle it worse than they mangled "The Dark is Rising" into "The Seeker".